There's nothing like a good multitasking stretch to get your muscles ready for a workout. My trainer at Crunch has me do this stretch sequence to combat muscle tightness I have from sitting at a desk all day, but it's easily as useful for runners, cyclists, and anyone else who needs to stretch the lower body muscles. And if you like yoga, you'll love this sequence; each stretch uses the Read more

My hip flexors are one area of my body that could always use some extra attention. Here's a lunge variation, similar to Warrior 1, but with your back knee resting on the floor, you can really increase the stretch for the muscles on the front part of your back thigh. Arching your spine backward also offers a great stretch for the abs and shoulders; not to mention it strengthens your core and Read more

Whether you run on the trail or the treadmill, your feet and hip flexors become so tight it can be uncomfortable to walk. To ease the tension, here's a stretch you can do that will not only target your tootsies and the front of your hips, but will also stretch out your tight calves. Kneel on the ground and place your right toes on the wall as high as you can with your heel on the floor. Place Read more

A common complaint among runners and cyclists is tight hip flexors, the area in front of the hips above the quads. Here's one of my favorite ways to lengthen that area, while also getting a subtle spinal twist — two great stretches in one! To learn how to get into this stretch, read more Read more

After running suicide sprints at the park, my running buddy complained that sprinting often leaves her lower back tight. I had a notion that her psoas might be tight. This muscle is a major hip flexor (it draws the thigh toward the abdomen) and attaches to the five lowest vertebrae, the lumbar spine. When the psoas shortens and tighten from activities like sprinting or biking, it can yank on the Read more

Whether you suffer from tight hips because you run, sit at a desk all day, are pregnant, or were just born with oh-so-tight hips, here are three yoga poses you can do every day to increase flexibility and reduce tension in this commonly stiff area. Mix up the sequence each time you do it to keep your muscles guessing. One of my favorite stretches after a run, Lizard will target your hips and hip Read more

When stretching out the lower body, the hips often get passed over in favor of the calves, quads, and hamstrings. Bad idea! Hip flexors are what help lift the legs while running, which means they are prone to tightness. Even if you don't run, but you sit a lot during the day, you're probably tight in your hips, so get a stretching! There's also an added bonus to incorporating some Pigeon Pose Read more